Sierra-at-Tahoe’s Straight A Pass Program partners with Vail Resorts to support education

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Sierra-at-Tahoe has partnered with Vail Resorts to continue to honor academic achievement by offering South Shore school students the opportunity to ski or ride at Heavenly, Kirkwood, and Northstar with a Tahoe Local Pass through the EpicPromise program.

When the Caldor Fire caused extensive damage at Sierra-at-Tahoe, postponing the start of its 75th season, several programs that benefited the youth of the South Lake Tahoe area were at risk for the 2021-22 season. Since 1999, Sierra-at-Tahoe has rewarded local school children with a complimentary unlimited season pass to the resort if they complete an entire school year with straight As.

“The Straight A Pass program has motivated many of our local students to try harder, study longer, and dream bigger. We are grateful to our friends at Vail Resorts for offering these students an opportunity to take a study break and ski some incredible terrain,” said Katie Hunter, director of sales and marketing at Sierra.

An average of 350 students take part in the program each year.

"Education is key to a community’s health and this program has been successful beyond our dreams. What started as a handful of students dedicating the necessary time to their studies to receive the pass has grown to hundreds every year and I have a stack of thank you cards and letters to prove it," said John Rice, general manager at Sierra. “With our delayed start to the season, we wanted to ensure those students that their commitment to excellence and their education does not take a hiatus.”

Vail Resorts stepped in to offer the same pass deal to local students with straight A's.

“As a company committed to increasing access to the sport through youth organization partnerships, we are so pleased to be supporting Sierra-at-Tahoe’s Straight A Pass Program this season,” said Tom Fortune, vice president/general manager at Heavenly. “We are proud to support the achievements of local students, rewarding them with an Experience of a Lifetime at our resorts across the Tahoe region. We stand with our friends at Sierra and remain united as one mountain community as they work towards rebuilding following the damage from the Caldor Fire.”

In addition to the Straight A's Program, Heavenly is hosting the South Tahoe High School Race Team and Kirkwood is hosting the school district race teams this season.